Description of Lucifer

Description of Lucifer

The most beautiful creature to come from the hand of God is a super angel named Satan. Satan was not always the enemy of God. Originally, he was “Lucifer, son of the morning,” or the “shining one,” the most startling spirit being ever created! No wonder that even as the fallen one Satan has the ability to transform himself into an “angel of light” (2 Cor. 11:14)!

Although invisible to the human eye, angels are nevertheless very real and function as a definite and important part of God’s Plan. They were created for the purpose of serving and praising God (Psa. 103:20). Superior to mankind (Psa. 8:5), angels also have rank and organization among themselves. The three highest echelons of angels are the cherubim (covering angels), who guard God’s holiness (Isa. 37:16; Ezek.1, 10), the seraphim (burning ones), who lead in worship (Isa. 6:2,3), and the archangel (chief angel), who is the “general” of the holy angelic army (1 Thess. 4:16). The heavenly host and their fallen counterparts, the demon army, are engaged in warfare that rages continually in the unseen world (Dan. 10:13; Eph. 6:12).

Generally, angels are confined to the first and second heavens, except for special convocations, such as those recorded in Job 1:6 and 2:1. The first heaven is the atmosphere around us and may include the galaxies, stars and planets. Where the second heaven begins is a matter of speculation. Beyond the stellar universe, billions and billions of light years away, is the third heaven, which is the abode of God (Eph. 1:20,21; 4:10). Here, Lucifer held a unique position as the “anointed cherub.”

In Ezekiel 28, an analogy is established between the magnificence of the pristine Satan, or Lucifer before the fall, and the glamour of the King of Tyre.

Son of man [Ezekiel], take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus {Latin for Tyre], and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord God; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty (Ezek. 28:12).

This type of analogy is not unusual in Hebrew writing; the same principle occurs in the Messianic Psalms (cf. Psa. 16:10). While David made statements concerning himself, at the same time these statements applied to Messiah. Similarly, Ezekiel presents information which involves more than the King of Tyre. It is part of Satan’s strategy to gain control of influential rulers in order to promote his ideas. In this case Satan had inspired and apparently personally indwelt the King of Tyre but the passage is actually describing Satan. Thus, the funeral dirge for this king is really the funeral dirge of the devil!

The description of Lucifer is idiomatic. “Thou sealest up the sum” means “to have finished proportions’ that is, Lucifer was created with a perfect balance of beauty and wisdom. The Greeks called this the “golden mean.” Satan is the wisest creature in the universe and perfect in beauty! You can see what that does to the image of the devil as depicted with a forked tail, red epidermis and slanted green eyes! Satan is not a vicious looking creature. Should you meet him on Main Street, you would undoubtedly be awed by his glamour and taken in by his brilliant conversation and personality. He is the most-impressive of all creatures!

Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee the day thou wast created (Ezek. 28:13).

“Eden’ is not a reference to the Garden of Eden of Genesis 2 and 3, but refers to the dwelling place of God in the third heaven in which Satan also resided. The stones listed here are found only three times in Scripture. They are mentioned in connection with the breastplate of the high priest (Ex. 28:17-20), in reference to the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21:19, 20), and here in the abode of God. These stones have great significance and indicate special beauty and favor from God. As the guardian of the throne room, Lucifer wore them in the presence of God. “The workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes’ describes Lucifer’s voice, as the sound of a pipe organ beautiful and melodious.

Thou art the anointed [Messianic] cherub that covereth [guards]; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain [throne] of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire (Ezek. 28:14).

Here we discover Satan’s original title and the description of his appointment. Contrary to the representation by many artists, a cherub is not a fat, pink naked infant with wings; he is a spirit being belonging to the highest and most powerful order of angels. But we must be sure to understand that although he has extranatural powers, he is not supernatural! He is still a creation of God and does not have the essence of God. As the “Messianic cherub,” Lucifer was the honor guard of the Second Person of the Godhead, the Lord Jesus Christ. Thus, the super angel was appointed to the highest position a creature could have guardian of the throne room.